Barry Carstetter

Story

Barry Carstetter is an Indie Rock Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller and Guitarist. His musical influences come from diverse cultures in which he's lived. Raised in the Northeastern, USA, Barry began playing piano at age five and was playing drums, guitar, and blues harp by his early teens, forming his first band at fifteen. After high school, Barry lived in Coahuila, Mexico where he learned Spanish and played with Mariachis and Norteño musicians. Eventually, he moved to Texas where he lived most of his adult life, working as a Spanish professor and playing with various bands and as a solo artist in Austin, ''The Live Music Capital of The World''. Barry describes his sound as Indie and Alternative World Rock. ''My songwriting encompasses many genre. I've come to the belief that music is the one thing that can transcend all languages with the potential to heal humanity''. Barry's backing band, The Poetic Outlawz (active 2018) includes Vocalist & Poet, Samantha Storm and other accompanying musicians. They gig, record and also perform charity events in Northern Pennsylvania.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

Languages

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music Is My Religion. It Gives Me Life. Music Does Not Lie.

What is your music dream?

Performing with my band, The Poetic OutLawZ. Working out of my own well-equipped recording studio, writing producing, and performing my own sound-vision.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Energy consumption. Get away from fossil fuel. We have so much more alternative energy-producing methods now than we ever did before. Education, Innovation, and Creativity Are The Keys!

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

I Wanna Hold Your Hand -The Beatles

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Bob Dylan, Beatles, Zeppelin, Santana, The Who, Ten Years After, Roy Orbison, Dire Straits, CCR, Fleetwood Mac, The Cars, Nirvana, Soundgarden, U2, The Gypsy Kings, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Moby, Enigma more than I can recall

What inspires you to make music?

To Play Music: A concert or even a documentary of a favorite artist. To Write Music: An idea, A deep emotion that needs to be expressed. Sometimes an actual melody or riff just comes out of nowhere and grabs me.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Music can heal the world. It crosses barriers of culture, language, and religion. Music is the one thing we can count on to change the world.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I always get nervous. But, I've come to realize that the show won't look anything like I've imagined. If I've never played the venue, I have no idea how it will sound or how the audience will respond. So, I want to be well prepared but, spontaneous. Once I'm into about the third song, I start to loosen up and connecting with my audience. It's a rollercoaster ride that I love to get on and where it goes is the fun part. I let the music play me.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

The rules for musicians have changed. Anyone can self-produce and market, now. Touring, for example, is not what it once was. It's difficult and it's a hardship financially for artists to manage their own tours unless they're signed or have some kind of great management. It's not cost-effective. Because Indie artists especially are in demand for Movie Tracks, TV Shows, Ads, we need more education about how the musician/songwriter/producer can best serve his audience by maximizing the utilization of his/her time and talent. We're self-defeating if we aren't getting proper guidance in a direction that can help us pay our bills. Sorry if unpopular, but I see nothing glamorous about being a "starving artist". Our society doesn't place value on musicians or they wouldn't try to get us to work for free. We have to teach them the' Law Of Fair Exchange'.

What do you think of Drooble?

I love the feedback I've received through the years from world class musicians This is the best support group for musicians I have ever experienced. Thank you!!

What frustrates you most as a musician?

I usually have what I call, "A SoundVision". , But I'm an Indie Musician.with limited resources. That means I pay my own way. I still don't have the very best equipment for producing that soundvision. Equipment malfunctioning or breaking down and/or not having what I need to produce the music exactly the way I want it, can be quite frustrating.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

I go to fellow musicians gigs

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Extreme Empathy, Humility, and Tenacity. Extreme Empathy, so that they can feel their audience and then, create the music for the need. Humility, because there is no place for Ego when we create good music. Tenacity, in order to keep your dream alive-there's too much pressure to quit and get "a real job." Haha

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Dana Thursday, Keith Randall, Steve Kerns, Heath Bashnick, Leo Wheeland, Matt Butler